A8STRACT We have developed a novel method for high resolution mapping of specific DN,5 sequences after in situ hybridization. DNA probes, labeled with biotin-nucleotides in conventional nick-translation reactions, are hybridized to cytological preparations and detected with affinity-purified rabbit antibiotin antibodies followed by antibodies to...

A8STRACT We have developed a novel method for high resolution mapping of specific DN,5 sequences after in situ hybridization. DNA probes, labeled with biotin-nucleotides in conventional nick-translation reactions, are hybridized to cytological preparations and detected with affinity-purified rabbit antibiotin antibodies followed by antibodies to rabbit IgG that are conjugated to fluorescent or enzymatic reagents. Using peroxidase labeled anti-rabbit IgG, we are able to detect and localize specific sequences at both the light and electron microscopic levels. Initial studies were done with repeated DNA sequences previously mapped by light microscope autoradiography to assess the fidelity and resolution of this method. An analysis using biotin-labeled mouse satellite DNA is presented here. In situ hybridization, a procedure for the localization of specific polynucleotide sequences, was introduced in 1969 (1, 2). It has been used subsequently by numerous investigators to examine the intracellular or chromosomal location of specific DNAs or RNAs in many different species (3). Recently, the method had been refined to permit the direct localization of single copy Minimize

Paraformaldehyde-fixed tissue from mouse cerebellum was hybridized with biotin-labeled satellite DNA for identification of centromeres. By using avidin-peroxidase conjugates, it was possible to define the nuclear position of centromeres at the ultrastructural level. Three-dimensional analysis of well-resolved centromere arrays were aided by comp...

Paraformaldehyde-fixed tissue from mouse cerebellum was hybridized with biotin-labeled satellite DNA for identification of centromeres. By using avidin-peroxidase conjugates, it was possible to define the nuclear position of centromeres at the ultrastructural level. Three-dimensional analysis of well-resolved centromere arrays were aided by computer reconstruction of serial sections. Different cell types displayed distinct, nonrandom centromere locations. In Purkinje neurons, the majority of detected sequences were clustered together around the central nucleolus, whereas in granule neurons, more numerous, dispersed centromere clusters were associated with the nuclear membrane. In Purkinje cells, peroxidase-labeled regions corresponded to dense heterochromatic aggregates were detected in Purkinje cells of several different species. These observations suggest that in these highly differentiated cells, the nuclear position of centromeres is maintained in evolution despite species differences in centromeric DNA sequence. Such defined ordering of centromeres may be integral to specific functional capacities. Minimize

Mouse DNA cleaved with Eco R11 (bst NI) displays two prominent restriction bands of 1.5 and 1.7 kb in agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. These constitute novel subsets of repeated DNA in the mouse. Sequential Hoechst 33258-CsCl gradient fractionation of mouse DNA, yielding more GC rich main band DNA, and AT rich satellite DNA, revealed that both these fragments copurified with GC rich main band DNA. They were not detected in purified satellite preparations. Together these restriction bands constituted larger than or equal to 0.2% of main band DNAs. Hybridization of 32p labelled satellite DNA to blots of Eco R11 restricted mouse DNA showed positive hybridization only to smaller satellite restriction fragments, indicating satellite DNA had little or no homology with either the 1.5 or 1.7 kb fragments. The 1.5 and 1.7 kb fragments were isolated from gels and labelled with 32p by nick translation. Using a series of restriction endonucleases each of these two fragments showed different cleavage patterns. Filter hybridization confirmed that these two fragments were distinct subsets as they did not cross hybridize with each other. They also did not hybridize to other more minor repeated non-satellite DNA bands noted in ethidium bromide stained gels. Neither of them could be assigned to ribosomal genes as they did not hybridize to 32p kinase labelled 18S and 28S RNA. Isolation of DNA from male and female mice showed comparable amounts of both the 1.5 and 1.7 kb fragments. Thus neither was Y chromosome specific. From restriction patterns, and preliminary chromosome hybridization studies, these fragments are thought to represent "interspersed" repeated sequences rather than very long tandem (satellite like) centromeric arrays. The relationship between these repeated sequence subsets, their evolution and detailed organization, and their representation in different mouse species, remain to be determined. Minimize

Human DNA digested with Hae III showed multiple repeats of a 170 base pair fragment. The most prominent band was the 340 base pair dimer, estimated to be 0.8% of the entire genome. Eco R1 and Hha I yielded fragments with similar electrophoretic mobility to the Hae III dimer. In each case this band was markedly enriched in DNA reassociating at a ...

Human DNA digested with Hae III showed multiple repeats of a 170 base pair fragment. The most prominent band was the 340 base pair dimer, estimated to be 0.8% of the entire genome. Eco R1 and Hha I yielded fragments with similar electrophoretic mobility to the Hae III dimer. In each case this band was markedly enriched in DNA reassociating at a 0t of less than or equal to 1. Hybridization of the Hae III dimer to gels eluted on to filters demonstrated that the multiple Hae III fragments and Eco R1 fragments contained compatible sequences. These sequences may comprise a distinct subclass of DNA. Minimize

Transgenic mice provide a remarkable experimental setting for the study of nuclear architecture. The three-dimensional localization and fine structure of a foreign DNA within the mouse genome can be conveniently followed by using high-resolution in situ hybridization. Foreign DNAs designed with specific characteristics, such as base bias, sequen...

Transgenic mice provide a remarkable experimental setting for the study of nuclear architecture. The three-dimensional localization and fine structure of a foreign DNA within the mouse genome can be conveniently followed by using high-resolution in situ hybridization. Foreign DNAs designed with specific characteristics, such as base bias, sequence motif(s), and size can stably integrate into finite positions on host chromosomes. Thus the relative importance of each of these characteristics in determining the three-dimensional nuclear position and the detailed morphology of the transgene can be evaluated in different cell types. The aim of this study was to evaluate a transgene with sequence characteristics that might contribute to the de novo formation of heterochromatin in interphase nuclei. The structure of a phenotypically silent 11-megabase transgene, containing tandem repeats of beta-globin-pBR sequences integrated into the peritelomeric region of both mouse chromosome 3 homologs, was determined in adult brain cells. Neurons that are largely euchromatic were especially informative in three-dimensional studies of transgene position. The two transgenic loci behaved much like centromeric or paracentromeric A + T-rich satellite DNAs of comparable length from a single chromosome; one or both transgene domains localized together with centromeric satellite DNA on the nucleolus. This is an unusual nuclear position for a telomeric or chromosome arm region that does not contain a substantial amount of constitutively heterochromatic satellite DNA. G + C richness did not prevent these regions from assembling as dense heterochromatic bodies of approximately 1 micron3 in volume. Ultrastructurally, transgenic domains were often intimately connected with constitutive heterochromatin and were highly condensed. Labeled supercoils, formed by a discrete approximately 250-nm-wide fiber, were observed in oblique thin sections through the center of the domain. The structural data were consistent with negligible transcriptional activity detected for this locus, as well as the predicted conformation of constitutive heterochromatin. Interestingly, in transgenic but not control mice, a substantial number of large neurons, including approximately 30% of cerebellar Purkinje cells, showed excessive invaginations of the nuclear membrane. Minimize

A human Hind III 1.9 kb repeated DNA fragment was isolated and cloned in pBR322. A cloned member that hybridized predominantly to the 1.9 kb Hind III band in a digest of whole human DNA was chosen for sequencing. It is an 1894 bp fragment that shows no significant internal repeats. Few pCG residues are observed in the sequence and there are nume...

A human Hind III 1.9 kb repeated DNA fragment was isolated and cloned in pBR322. A cloned member that hybridized predominantly to the 1.9 kb Hind III band in a digest of whole human DNA was chosen for sequencing. It is an 1894 bp fragment that shows no significant internal repeats. Few pCG residues are observed in the sequence and there are numerous stop codons. Detailed sequence comparisons confirm this is a novel class of repeats that is not related to previously characterized human satellite DNAs or Alu sequences. At least a portion of the sequence described is conserved in evolution. Minimize

The etiology of most human dementias is unknown. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a relatively uncommon human dementia, is caused by a transmissible virus-like agent. Molecular markers that are specific for the agent have not yet been defined. However, the infectious disease can be transmitted to rodents from both brain and infected buffy coat (...

The etiology of most human dementias is unknown. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a relatively uncommon human dementia, is caused by a transmissible virus-like agent. Molecular markers that are specific for the agent have not yet been defined. However, the infectious disease can be transmitted to rodents from both brain and infected buffy coat (blood) samples. To determine whether human CJD infections are more widespread than is apparent from the low incidence of neurological disease, we attempted to transmit CJD from buffy coat samples of 30 healthy volunteers who had no family history of dementing illness. Primary transmissions from 26 of 30 individuals produced CJD-like spongiform changes in the brains of recipient hamsters at 200-500 days postinoculation. This positive evidence of viremia was found for individuals in all age groups (20-30, 40-50, and 61-71 years old), whereas 12 negatively scored brain samples failed to produce similar changes in hamsters observed for > 900 days in the same setting. We suggest that a CJD agent endemically infects humans but only infrequently produces an infectious dementia. Disease expression is likely to be influenced by several host factors in combination with viral variants that have altered neurovirulence. Minimize